Toronto Council meets today!

Councillor Lily Cheng laments that "every year I have to advocate for economic and cultural investments" in North York Centre.

She warns that without those investments, the North York Centre Secondary Plan and resulting population growth will turn the area into a "vertical suburb."

"There have some people that are saying, 'OK, the police budget, why did you increase it?'" notes Councillor Mike Colle. "And I say, 'Where the heck have you been?' The policework has meant there's a significant decrease in criminal activity in Toronto."

Councillor Parthi Kandavel moves a pair of motions: one to accelerate playground and splashpad construction at Bluffer's Park, and one to speed up a rec centre project.

Councillor Bradford moves to move some capital dollars up to speed up the Main Square Community Centre project.

"Mayor Chow is using one-time reserve draws to paper over operating costs. The same operating costs that she has ballooned since taking office," says Bradford. "It's not that we've never used reserves — it's to the extent and what we are using them for."

Bradford calls Chow's budget "financial malpractice."

"This budget is mortgaging the city's future to make an election-year budget look better on paper today."

"I do have an announcement for everyone — it's raining!" says Councillor Fletcher, metaphorically. "We have somebody south of the border creating a lot of storms!"

She points to tariffs and the economic situation as reasons to prioritize affordability in this budget.

Before Council voted on the budget motions, Councillor Mike Colle declares a conflict of interest on any TTC-related portions and says he won't vote on those parts. His son Josh works for the TTC.

All 18 parts of Councillor Shelley Carroll's omnibus budget amendment CARRY 23-2.

Councillor Stephen Holyday's motion to cancel the TTC's new fare capping program FAILS 3-21.

Holyday's motion to change TTC policy so kids under 12 have to pay fares FAILS 1-23.

Holyday's motion to raise TTC fares this year FAILS 1-23.

Councillor James Pasternak's motion to delay funding for the new Wilson Ave shelter FAILS 5-20.

Councillor Bradford's motion to accelerate the Main Square Community Centre Redevelopment Design project CARRIES 25-0.

And that completes the debate on the mayor's budget. Unless Chow vetoes any of the amendments — and she won't — it'll be deemed adopted shortly.

But we're not done yet. There's still the not-so-small matter of approving the tax rates. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.CC38.1

On the tax rate item, Councillor Carroll moves an expected motion to increase the tax break for small businesses from 15% to 20%. The money will be offset by a larger increase to larger businesses in the commercial property tax class.

Carroll also moves for the City Manager to continue with his rolling review of programs to look for more savings. And for the feds to continue funding youth violence programs. And for a review of eligibility for the small biz tax class.

"We promised that we would work on paying the COVID bill, and then we would stabilize. And as a result, you have one of the most reasonable property tax increases anywhere in the GTHA. Others are not finished paying their COVID bill!" says budget chief Shelley Carroll.

"If you're worried about our reserves, I don't think the public should come away from watching this little TV show on YouTube without remembering we have almost $10 billion in reserve. Almost 10 billion dollars!" says Carroll.

Councillor Myers moves for a report as part of next year's budget on ways to improve the working relationship between the TTC and City Hall. He says that could include the city attaching KPIs to the operating subsidy, and the TTC formalizing requests for what they need to meet those KPIs.